CITIZEN TAXPAYERS - BE INFORMED

posted 3 Jun 2019, 02:31 by Peter Webb

Your
MP won't bother to account to you but here is non-political factual stuff meant
for you as well as Parliament. Have a
look. Be brave. Explore. Don't swallow all at once.Get familiar with the document construction. These2017-18 Whole of Government Accounts (WGA)
2017-18: were published by Her Majesty's
Treasury on 23rd May advanced by 6 months from last year. A further 6 months at
least and they will emerge into the land of the living.

2 They have been sent to me straight away by my
Director contact at the NAO replying to my letter of 29th April attached to the
7th May STAG UPDATE.

3 They cover the whole range and extent of
government's managerial responsiility. According to the effectiveness of that
management additional resources can be won without borrowing.

4 There is no budget comparison yet to fully enrich
and transform appreciation of issues and your informed judgements.

5 Note tasters such as Stonehenge in our balance
sheet; pass over our ownership of the Royal Bank of Scotland; shudder at
MOD records being audit failed yet again; see government pensions
liabilities in context, and much more…..

6 Key numbers are attached on the single page
summary as before. More preliminary reactions are:

·Note the
screaming clash of priorities in comparing debt interest (£44bn) and defence
(£37bn). The total debt, not all interest bearing, has almost doubled in 10
years to £4,579trillion.

·NAO Director
Elaine Lewis has also kindly sent me links to key PAC Reports indicating the
Parliamentary dialogue with the Treasury and progress towards the goal of
a working financial control system. Many references now indicate 'point taken'
but not from political leadership and Parties.

·Indicative also
in my mind is that 2-3 years ago there were said to be c6000 entities to be
consolidated. Last year that had increased to c7000. I have just now seen
reference to 8000!. That is so revealing of the historical backwardness of
government.

·No-one takes
titular responsibility on behalf of the Government for these Accounts by
signature, otherwise normal practice. Also, as pointed out last year, that
means no formal presentation and accountability to Parliament who get
only a "lay before". This confirms my unchallenged assertion
that there is no Managerial Head of Government and Attendant Civil Service. In
contrast the Auditor signs his Report with those Accounts. In my mind this is
another manifestation of undemocratic even rotting government underlying the
public disillusion with internally clashing tribal politics, the old main
Parties, and the brexit shambles.

7 In passing but relevant I have been alerted from India under the heading
"What is Vote On Account? Let's understand it." Discussed is the the
historical muddle (arising in the Raj era?) of unsynchronised legal and
operational decision processes of financial reporting, budgeting, tax raising
legislation, spending and so on. To the extent that we may be trying to
rationalise all the 'heartbeat' timetables and Parliamentary protocols there is
much still to be worked out for UK such as synchronisation of public report
with elections. But attitudes and understanding are slow to change. This is
even more important now that we are faced by brexit and beyond, and
threatening confidence damage to the Constitution. That the economically
competitive environment becomes centre stage is also threatening as indicated
in the headline on 29th May "UK falls out of top 20 league of competitive
economies". Our governors must get a grip under a strong patriotic leader.